iOS 11 : Everything You Need to Know About It

iOS 11: The world was looking forward to Apple’s WWDC event in 2017, and the company did not disappoint. With the first look at iOS 11, some very important points about Apple’s next iOS update came to the fore, and the subsequent betas that were rolled out were hint enough to the fact that we can expect some marvelous new features when the iOS 11 release date.

Not only does the new software mark a complete overhaul of last year’s iOS 10, but much more than that. On this page, we will talk about some of the most remarkable iOS 11 features and how they stand out in comparison with iOS 10. Go through our site to come to a complete understanding of the iOS 11 before the final version is rolled out in Fall 2017.

iOS 11 Release Date: What’s Cooking Inside

As of now, Apple is yet to announce a specific release date of iOS 11. Going by past patterns, Apple usually prefers September as the month for big reveals related to the iPhone. Also, the full release of a new iOS upgrade and new iPhone versions are separated by a few days, with the iPhone being announced ahead of- but actually released after- a few days of the iOS. This time too, we expect the iOS 11 to precede the release of the iPhone 8 and its companions by a couple of days. But to be a little more specific, we assume that the whole thing will take place during the second week of September. Officially, however, all Apple has offered is a Fall 2017 window for the iOS 11 release date.

iOS 11 Features: The Best of What We Have Seen So Far

One thing that is clear from the introduction of the iOS 11 is that Apple is aiming for a complete break from the design aesthetics that were largely followed by the last update. Moreover, the initiative that the company has taken to include several exclusive new features for iPad owners has made a lot of users joyous.

The announcement at WWDC 2017 was followed shortly by several beta releases, including an initial Developer Beta, the Developer Beta 2, and a Public Beta having been rolled out fairly recently. Speculation based on past patterns indicate that there will be a lot more to come, so we have hopes of learning more over time until the final release of iOS 11. But at the moment, we are definitely not falling short of information. So in this section, we will talk about the most notable features of iOS 11 that have been officially announced, along with some great new upgrades. So let us get started.

ARKit: Future is Here

One of the raging speculations surrounding the iOS 11 even before its announcement was related to the integration of advanced AR (Augmented Reality) features- a field that industry analysts and Apple enthusiasts were confident that the company would be staying miles ahead of their competition. So it goes without saying that the ARKit was one of the biggest draws during the announcement of the iOS 11. ARKit, the new platform to be introduced in iOS 11, is a great new platform that aims to take user experience beyond the limitations of what’s on the screen. Besides bringing AR to the millions of supported devices across the world, the ARKit in iOS 11 will also aid developers in creating a number of amazing AR-enabled apps for the iPhone and iPad. While the use of mixed reality functions is usually relegated mostly to entertainment, we expect Apple to integrate new apps that will be just as useful for real-life usage. So by the time Apple officially releases the new software, compatible device users will be rewarded with a platform that can blend the reality with the virtual seamlessly.

Explore Siri Like Never Before

With the initial introduction of Siri on the iPhone 4s, Apple had aimed not only to benefit their users but also to startle them with the possibilities. And the feature has truly come a long way since then, with Siri in iOS 11 daring to venture even further. Improvements apart, the new abilities of Siri are definitely mind-blowing. To begin with, this time around the voiced AI assistant is about to display some amazing translating features. With iOS 11, all that users will have to do is ask Siri how to say something in one of the languages supported, and it will provide results in real time. Upon release, only five languages will be supported (German, Spanish, Italian, French, and Chinese), but this is expected to be extended with time.

Moreover, Siri in iOS 11 will come equipped with Quick Learning abilities, which means that it will start learning your requirements as you continue to use your device. Suppose you have a specific interest in a topic, which you are displaying across several of the apps on your iOS 11 device. Siri will make note of that and give you relevant suggestions across all the apps on your device.

Other new Siri features in iOS 11 include Quick Type assistance and Music assistance.

Imaging: A Significant Upgrade Indeed

One of the biggest focuses in the iOS 11 is the camera application, and a lot of new things have been added to this feature to make it much improved and more convenient for users. So with the revamped camera app, users will be able to make the most out of the storage space on their iOS device (which has always been an issue) with the help of a sophisticated new technology that would give way to quality pictures at a much-reduced file size. Additionally, a number of new filters are also making their way into the iOS 11 camera app to make the pictures look more natural and fluid.

Finally, one can expect a lot of great new features in Live Photos. Besides putting your videos through the standard loops, you can also make use of the Bounce feature to make them roll back and forth. Lastly, there is the Long Exposure feature which helps impart a beautiful effect to reflect the essence of the fluidity of time and motion.

All-New Advanced Apple Maps is in the House

The new Apple Maps comes with detailed support both for the roads and for well-known internal spaces such as malls or airports. So when you are traveling, you will be able to see the gate and terminal information at airports and find a suitable restaurant inside shopping malls without the need to locate a physical map.

On the road front, the all-new Apple Maps now comes with the coveted Lane Guidance feature which helps in navigating through small areas a greater convenience. Up until iOS 10, this was one of the biggest quips about Maps, but it appears that Apple has taken public demand and convenience into account.

“Do Not Disturb” Mode While Driving

A great new safety feature that is making its way into iOS 11 is the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, which people have been able to try out for themselves with the release of the iOS 11 Developer Beta 2. This feature can be set up automatically when connected to your car over the air, or manually. What this does is keep notifications and other distractions at bay while you are on the road to help you stay focused. There is also an option to send a text message to those who are trying to contact you to notify them of your situation. However, if someone is trying to contact you for an emergency they can do so by sending two urgent messages. As for calls, they will come in as long as you have a handsfree device connected to your iPhone.

The Do Not Disturb While Driving feature can easily be deactivated when it is not necessary.

iOS 11 for iPad- What’s new

You may have felt left out with the release of the iOS 10, but Apple guarantees that you don’t have a repeat of that with these amazing new features for the iPad. Take a quick look at them below.

Apple Pencil: The iOS 11 is making the Apple Pencil a much more versatile accessory. It will now be able to instantly mark up any document or picture that you want. This means that you will be able to take notes or just mark something important on the iPad with the efficiency of an actual writing tool.

All new Files App: With this new feature in iOS 11, users will have an easier time browsing through all their files, not only on the iPad but also on other platforms like iCloud and Dropbox.

New Dock: With the reworked Dock, you can now accommodate more apps for easier access on your iPad. Not only will it be accessible from any screen on your iPad, but it will also give the user suggestions on which ones to set up based on their usage.

iOS 11 Latest News & Updates

1>iOS 11 to incorporate FaceTime Group Video Calls

If we follow the trend of the release dates of the previous iOS, we can expect that the upcoming iOS 11 will make its debut in 5th June, during the WWDC 2017 event. And Apple is shifting their focus to incorporate more ‘social elements’ in this upcoming operating system. According to the latest news and reports, the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to update FaceTime with support for group calling in iOS 11.

Among the new features, we will witness in the iOS 11, the most prolific one would be the FaceTime group video calls. Through this FaceTime group video calling feature, multiple users can avail the video service at a time and the app will allow you to add up to five people to your call. Apart from it, there is also a possibility that the iOS 11 will let its users to start a video call from a group conversation in iMessage.

2> Apple indicates dropping support for 32-bit apps in iOS 11

It is almost sure that Apple will introduce some new features when they will launch the upcoming iOS 11 software in the coming June. But reports also suggest that they are going to omit some. According to the recent news, the US-based tech conglomerate is planning to drop support for 32-bit apps in iOS 11. Peter Steinberger, a renowned developer first break the news of Apple dropping 32-bit support and tweeted the pop-up message he discovered while using the beta version of iOS 10.3.

Even in iOS 10, a message appears on the user’s screen while opening the 32-bit apps which states that, “the app will slow down an iPhone/iPad. The developer of this app needs to update it to improve its compatibility.” But in the iOS 10.3 beta, the message reads that, “the app needs to be updated. This app will not work with future versions of iOS. The developer of this app needs to update it to improve its compatibility.”

As the current iOS 10.3 beta is no longer supporting the 32-bit applications and displaying an error message which clearly states the app will not work anymore, we are sure that the forthcoming iOS 11 will stop supporting the 32-bit apps altogether.

*Note: In addition, if we indeed get to see the three new iPhone variants in September, including the anniversary edition iPhone 8, these will also run the iOS 11, most likely at the launch itself.

What to Expect from the September 2017 Launch Event

It is very much possible that Apple did not reveal all of the features that are to come in with the iOS 11 at the WWDC event in June. The company has had a spectacular past where they are prone to withhold information until the time is right. And while it is easy to think that the new iPhones that will be introduced in September (tentatively, we repeat) will be enough to hog the limelight, we assume that the iOS 11 might also be getting some exclusive new features at the time. Now whether these will be exclusive to the iPhone 8 or be launched across iOS 11 remains a question, but we will not overlook the possibility of some brand new unannounced features coming in. Especially when so many rumors pointed towards several possibilities that found no mention on June 5. So here we take a look at some of the things that might be unveiled later on.

AR Apps with ARKit

That Apple is going places in the field of AR technology was no secret. The announcement of the ARKit platform which paves the way for several app developers to create AR apps for iOS 11 was one of the biggest reveals of WWDC 2017. And now that we aren’t too far away from getting hold of these apps on our compatible devices, Apple has conducted a tech meet where some of these apps were shown off. The meet was attended by some of the best-known app developers, and the live demonstrations included a healthy mix of functionality and fun. This is remarkable, as the use of Augmented Reality as a technology has mostly been confined to the areas of gaming and entertainment. For instance, Ikea’s Ikea Place app aims to give the user a realistic idea of home furnishing by using virtual accessories and placing them in them in a room. The measurements of the room will be determined by the app with the help of the cameras, and the user will even be able to walk up to the furniture they have “placed” to get a lifelike feel of its size and fit. Note that not all iOS 11 compatible devices will support ARKit. However, all iPhones and iPads that come with an A9 processor will be able to make use of the tech.

Docking Terminal System

One of the biggest leaks from Apple’s camp earlier this year happened to do with a physical docking mechanism with a dummy laptop type device. This patent leak showed facilities for both the iPhone and iPad separately, where in one case the iPhone may be docked into the area of the dummy where the trackpad, while on the other, the iPad could be docked in the display area. Now as crazy as this idea sounds, it may definitely be a possibility coming from the Cupertino-based company that is famed for thinking out of the box. While the iPad idea may not seem all that novel, the one with the iPhone serving as a trackpad and a possible separate GPU integration to power the larger display area sounds fantastic. We wonder if this would find its way into the iPhone 8 powered by iOS 11 in Fall.

Dark Mode

While this was one of the most talked about features that could find their way into the iOS 11, Apple made no mention of it at the June event, at least not for the iOS. However, we can’t imagine why the company would leave something as important as this one out in the new operating system, especially considering what a practical decision it would be to integrate this one. Especially when it was already available in the iOS 10 beta. We think there is a high amount of possibility of the Dark Mode coming into iOS 11 once it releases. Or perhaps subsequent beta versions will serve as a clue.

Group FaceTime Calling

It has been made amply clear that Apple is focusing on improving social connections with the iOS 11. One of the rumored features that fans were hoping for Apple to introduce in the iOS 11 preview was a group calling feature in FaceTime. It is only natural that FaceTime- one of the oldest existing video calling apps available for mobile devices, would be expected to integrate the option to call several people at the same time. But the fact that Apple gave this one a miss at the preview does not mean that it will be given a miss entirely.

The iOS 11 is one of the safest and the most secure operating systems ever devised. It is also one the most feature rich. Also notable is the fact that the new iOS 11 will have a lot of amazing features as well, including a great new drag and drop support feature. However, the new arrival is not entirely free of some drawbacks, however. This list will update you of the iOS 11 pros and cons.

iOS 11 Pros and Cons: What You Must Know

We will first focus on the advantages and the benefits of the new OS before we list the drawbacks. The list is not an exhaustive one, please remember.

Pros

More Refined Siri: Siri on the new iOS 11 is a greatly improved AI-based digital assistant and also has a new translation feature which will come in handy when you are traveling.

Augmented Reality Support: With the new ARKit, the new OS will have better support for Augmented Reality-based apps.

Better Apple Pay Support: With a newer and more improved Apple Pay, you can send and receive money from friends using Apple Pay. The feature, which has been integrated into the messages section for iOS 11 users, will open up a new era of digital transactions.

Cons

Only 64-bit apps supported: Sad news for some of 32-bit app user and developers as the new OS will not support many older apps. This has rendered many apps obsolete.

Not all phones are supported: This will lead to many iPhone users being unhappy for not being able to upgrade their OS to the new one. To check if your device can be upgraded to the iOS 11, check out our compatibility guide.

In the end, we would like to point out that the pros of the new iOS 11 far outweigh the cons. If you have anything to add to our list of iOS 11 pros and cons, feel free to do so in our comments section below.

Wrap Up

It is no secret that Apple is developing the iOS 11 to be a powerhouse software, and the betas have yielded very positive responses, save for the bugs (which is a problem that goes hand-in-hand with any testing phase. The new iOS 11 features that have been announced so far indicate that there is a lot more that one will be able to do with the upcoming software, but we are equally eager to find out what features the company is yet holding a secret. Guess we will only find out in September if that is when Apple chooses to schedule the final unveiling of the iOS 11.